BARTLESVILLE, OKLA. – The East Central University men's basketball team earned their first win in the post season and have their first 20-win season since 1997-98 with a 78-58 win over Southern Nazarene in the 2015 Great American Conference Tournament at Bruin Fieldhouse.

Photo Gallery I Press Conference

The Tigers (20-9) were paced by redshirt sophomore Donovan Halsel, who went 7-of-7 from the field, 5-of-5 from beyond the arc for a career-high 19 points.  Senior Brandon Lucas added 14 points and five rebounds, while juniors Stirling Thomas and Deron Hill each tallied 11 points.

The teams kept things close for the opening 3:30 minutes before ECU took control of the half, with a 6-0 run over a minute span to push the lead out to six.  The Tigers kept pushing and had the advantage out to 10, with 13 minutes left and then 19 with five minutes left on the clock (33-14). 

The Crimson Storm (13-14) made a push to get back within eight (38-26) over the next 3:30, using a 12-5 run.  However, ECU pushed back and went into the locker room with a 43-27 advantage.

The second half was a closer battle in the beginning, but the Tigers never relinquished a lead lower than 13 points in the stanza.  ECU used several small runs throughout the half to push the lead out to as many as 25 before earning the 78-58 victory.

ECU had a much strong day shooting then in the game against SNU Feb. 28, hitting 53.8 percent of their overall shots (28-52) and 40 percent (10-25) from beyond the arc.  The Tigers also did a better job on defense, holding the Crimson Storm to 35.6 percent shooting for the day.

The Tigers now advance to the GAC Semifinals and will face Harding at 5:45 p.m.  This is the second time the teams have met in the GAC Tournament, with Harding earning a 65-77 win last season in the quarterfinals.